Police Chief William Clay has banned all on-duty police officers from eating at Denny's Restaurant on South Illinois Street after a detective was asked to remove her gun or leave the restaurant.

"All sworn (uniformed/non-uniformed) officers have been prohibited from entering Denny's Restaurant at 1130 South Illinois for any meal or coffee breaks while on duty," Clay said in a released statement. "Additionally, no officers may enter the restaurant off-duty if in uniform."

“Sax said the other four detectives initially thought Rice was joking with the female detective until she told Rice that she was a police officer and that all persons present at the table were police officers.

According to police, Rice stated he had a complaint from another customer about the weapon and she had to take the weapon outside or leave. Other detectives advised Rice they were on-duty Belleville police detectives.

Sax said the manager responded stating that company policy stated that only officers in uniform may have weapons. Rice went on to state there was a sign on the door indicating weapons were only allowed in the restaurant if officers were in uniform.

The detectives asked Rice whether he wanted them to stop eating and they were told they could take their food with them. Sax said the detectives advised the manager they would not leave weapons outside while on duty and stood up to leave.

As the detectives were leaving the restaurant, Sax said General Manager Michael Van walked up and advised Rice it was fine for the detectives to be in the restaurant.

“At this point, the detectives were embarrassed and felt the situation was entirely too awkward for them to remain and all left the restaurant,” Sax said.

Sax said there was no sign posted on the door of the restaurant stating police officers must be in uniform if they have a weapon.

At the time of the incident, three of the detectives had their badges clipped on their belt next to their duty weapon, and the other two had their badges hanging from a chain around their neck, all in plain sight, according to Sax. There were also several portable police radios on the table since the detectives were working so they could continue to monitor other police activities.

Clay was notified by Captain John Moody, chief of investigations, about the incident at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, which was a holiday.

“This was an insult, a slap in the face, to those detectives and to all of the men and women who proudly wear the uniform or badge and serve in law enforcement,” Clay said. “This individual (Rice) was the manager of Denny’s. He therefore speaks for Denny’s in my mind.

“This policy effectively prohibits on-duty sworn police officers from dining in a Denny’s Restaurant, but allows ‘registered sex offenders,’ ‘felons’ and or ‘pedophiles’ to enjoy a dining experience in Denny’s,” he said. “While I am appalled at this policy, I am sadly not shocked by it. We see so much political stupidness carried out in this day and age. I am hopeful that this incident reflects on the poor judgment of one individual and not the Denny’s restaurant chain.”

Word about the incident involving the Belleville police detectives circulated rapidly Tuesday and Wednesday on social media sites such as Facebook.

“I had hoped to meet privately with members of Denny’s management on a regional level to discuss this policy and share our views,” Clay said. “However in today’s world of instant social media, such events are difficult if not impossible to resolve confidentially.”

I actually think this is great and wish more people and restaurants would do this, especially in States where Citizens are prevented from owning or using firearms. Do these “officers” enforce tyrannical laws in direct defiance of what the Constitution says?? YES THEY DO. Then tell the Jack Booted Gang Bangers to go somewhere else. Maybe I will start eating at Denny’s again.

Dumb, dumb, dumb and dumb! Wouldn’t a manager of a restaurant want armed law enforcement eating in their restaurant or getting a cup of coffee? Sounds like the manager has declared “open season” on his/her own restaurant. From my understanding, many establishments like 7-11, give cops free coffee and access to the employees restrooms. Why? Police presence deters crime. DUH!

It’s going to really be a pain when the Libs in Illinois start to ban Knives and Forks. I wonder if You’ll have to get a permit to be able to cut up some pancakes or go to the same black market that you get lightbulbs? LOL

I was at PDQ in Tampa over the holidays. There were 5 well-dressed men and women at two tables wearing guns on their belts. They had badges on a leather background around their necks on a chain. I assumed that the prominently displayed badges were to stop the patrons from panicking at the open carry. I decided right then and there that PDQ is the place I want to eat. (I conceal carry and never let anybody see the gun as Im afraid theyll go nuts. )

Belleville, IL, is just a few miles from East St. Louis, IL, a city that has been overrun by gangs. It is a town that looks like it has been bombed out. I am surprised people in Belleville would take such an attitude to obvious cops displaying firearms.

21
posted on 01/03/2013 5:09:17 AM PST
by Lawgvr1955
(You can never have too much cowbell !!)

The lady detective was in plain clothes, with her pistol visible, and some other patrons became alarmed. The place had a sign that only UNIFORMED officers could have weapons in the restaurant.

If she and the other detectives could have had the common sense to have their pistols concealed, there would not have been an issue.

"At the time of the incident, three of the detectives had their badges clipped on their belt next to their duty weapon, and the other two had their badges hanging from a chain around their neck, all in plain sight, according to Sax. There were also several portable police radios on the table since the detectives were working so they could continue to monitor other police activities."

Want to try that again?

24
posted on 01/03/2013 5:15:56 AM PST
by COBOL2Java
(kak-is-toc-ra-cy: Government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens. See: GOP-e)

As the detectives were leaving the restaurant, Sax said General Manager Michael Van walked up and advised Rice it was fine for the detectives to be in the restaurant.

Well, see here, the GM of the store said stay. As far as I'm concerned, it was cleared up right there. Then the cops got melodramatic about it. So why does the Chief ban officers now, since the GM says it was ok? Sounds to me that the little weasel Rice was put in his place by his boss. The police need to consider this won and move on.

Belleville, IL, is just a few miles from East St. Louis, IL, a city that has been overrun by gangs. It is a town that looks like it has been bombed out. I am surprised people in Belleville would take such an attitude to obvious cops displaying firearms.

The question begs, is the Manager / franchise owner a big Obee Supporter and or are they some Progressive Group plant and this is a Sandra Fluke type setup?

Not the point. Police should never have to hide their weapons in uniform or out. Neither should any legal individual permit holder. I would like to see all states make open carry legal like TN and some other more reasonable states.

And the vast majority of these GANG PROBLEMS are a Direct Result of Government and their Jack Booted Thugs enforcing tyrannical laws making Millions of Innocent Victims. Go to Arizona or Texas and tell me about the feral gang bangers running wild. It doesn’t exist, and if it does happen Citizens usually take care of the problem using their GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE. Unlike Illinois.

"This policy effectively prohibits on-duty sworn police officers from dining in a Dennys Restaurant, but allows registered sex offenders, felons and or pedophiles to enjoy a dining experience in Dennys, he said. While I am appalled at this policy, I am sadly not shocked by it. We see so much political stupidness carried out in this day and age. I am hopeful that this incident reflects on the poor judgment of one individual and not the Dennys restaurant chain."

The liberal/progressives have done a damn good job of turning the 2nd Amendment into a freaking crisis.

The proper response, especially if it was known to restraunt personnel these were cops, should have been ...it is their Right and DUTY. Yeah...lock the gun in the unmarked car out front. We’d all be screaming at how freaking stupid that move was when the car gets stolen or broken into.

"All sworn (uniformed/non-uniformed) officers have been prohibited from entering Denny's Restaurant at 1130 South Illinois for any meal or coffee breaks while on duty. Additionally, no officers may enter the restaurant off-duty if in uniform."

Criminals take note - there is a 0% probability that a police officer will be in that Denny's location in the event of an armed robbery.

33
posted on 01/03/2013 5:33:46 AM PST
by Hoodat
("As for God, His way is perfect" - Psalm 18:30)

Not necessarily. The GM may have been simply overriding an existing policy for customer satisfaction. Short of an official statement that this is not policy and that Rice was in error, this is not resolved.

Sax said the manager responded stating that company policy stated that only officers in uniform may have weapons. Rice went on to state there was a sign on the door indicating weapons were only allowed in the restaurant if officers were in uniform.

[later in the story:]

Sax said there was no sign posted on the door of the restaurant stating police officers must be in uniform if they have a weapon.

So that point seems to be in dispute. Regardless, the restaurant has the right to ask a customer to leave if they feel that customer is making other customers uncomfortable.

41
posted on 01/03/2013 6:01:23 AM PST
by PapaBear3625
(You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)

This Denny's is two blocks down the street from a Belleville police station. Are you telling me that police with and without weapons have not been coming and going in there for decades without incident -- and now this???

Are you telling me that the Belleville police don't have a set policy about how detectives out of uniform are to carry and display their weapons after all these years???

And are you telling me that said policy is in conflict with a restaurant that is only two blocks away and obviously frequented by police and detectives???

Something here makes no sense.

And btw a badge clipped on the belt where it cannot readily be seen or hung around the neck and usually tucked inside the shirt doesn't make you a uniformed officer. You are either on duty or you are not. You are either a uniformed officer or you are not. Make up your mind.

The better action for the restaurant manager would’ve been to say to the oh-so-horrified customer, “I’ll be happy to move you to another part of the restaurant if you wish to the officer’s weapon won’t be in your line of sight, but in this Denny’s establishment, law enforcement personnel are welcome... on or off duty.”

45
posted on 01/03/2013 6:03:41 AM PST
by ScottinVA
(More dizzying than a Tilt-a-Whirl is an around-a-circle argument with a liberal about gun control.)

Ignorant??not hardly. my views on the Police have been shaped by 50+ years. I have watched them turn from Public Servants to Jack Booted Thugs in the last 30 years. Just look at Long Beach, Ca when the entire Police Dept defended the two Thugs that executed Doug Zirby while in the privacy of a GATED COURTYARD on PRIVATE PROPERTY that was not VISIBLE to the Public, for holding a Garden Hose, or how about Fullerton where the ENTIRE Dept defends their 4 thugs for beating a Homeless Man to DEATH(Kelly Thomas) or how about when the entire NYPD came out to protest the Arrest of a Group of Detectives for a whole host of crimes. Every Police Officer in America would sell their own Mother to Satan to protect one of their own. THEY ARE ALL SCUM, and it sounds like you got Shoe Polish on your chin from licking their boots. I could go on with THOUSANDS OF EXAMPLES of POLICE CORRUPTION on a Massive scale in Every city in America. I took off those rose colored glasses 30 years ago, why didn’t you?? To be honest with you, I have not met or seen an HONEST POLICE OFFICER in a long, long time, and I personally think it should be a FELONY for ANY Public Servant to make deliberate false statements during the course of their official duties. Today it is celebrated when a COP lies in order to further their cause. 30 years ago if a COP shot an UNARMED individual, HE WENT TO JAIL FOR MANSLAUGHTER, Today he is called a hero?? bottom line is this, 95% of the Police Officers in this country make the 5% look Bad.

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